UPDATE! If you missed out on our Tron Legacy: The Artist Behind The Science Event, here is a quick rundown…

Recently, Platt College had the privilege to traverse the grid with Digital Domain, the folks behind Disney’s VFX powerhouse movie, Tron Legacy. Their visit enthralled the campus, packing the presentation to its limits while leaving just enough breathing room for the students to catch their breath from spectacles of the event.

The presentation started with a bang as Daft Punk’s heart-thumping beats hyped all attendees for the wonders to come. Inspiration radiated forth as Dan Platt, Lead Modeler at Digital Domain, and Matthias Wittmann, Lead Animator at Digital Domain, showcased an eight minute documentary, detailing some of the visual effects composition and modeling treatment Digital Domain bestowed onto the film. From there, our presenters delivered a two hour tour de force break down of the film’s antagonist, CLU.

Taking various cues from their past work on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the team at Digital Domain was able to render an uncanny image of Jeff Bridges similar to his appearance in the 1982 film Tron. Using some of the latest camera techniques, Platt and Wittmann explained the intricate steps they took to develop more than 350 facial motions and over 165 animation scenes of CLU to match Jeff Bridges’ motions. Platt and Wittmann were also responsible for some of the digital versions of Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), Quorra (Olivia Wilde), and Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) within the film as well.

Like all good things, the event ended with thunderous applause as various students took advantage of the following Q&A session. Many left the event enthused at the career path they had chosen while some were inspired to look further in the 3D animation field. In either case, the event left a lasting experience that will keep all of us on the grid.

Platt College would like to thank Dan Platt and Matthias Wittmann for taking time out of their hectic schedules to come and share their wondrous world with us!